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Monday, 20 March 2017

Saturday and Sunday 18th and 19th March.

Bark is otherwise indisposed this week and has asked us to look after the blog, however we fully expect him back in his own well-known roosting spot by next weekend.

Spring is such an exciting time for birders and hopes are
naturally raised as winter passes in favour of longer days and warmer weather,
promising summer visitors and passage migrants.

However weather conditions
often determine expectation levels and these can be rather changeable in
mid-March, so while we experienced beautiful sunny days earlier in the week,
these gave way to cooler, greyer and much windier conditions by the weekend.

The
over-wintering Short-eared Owl was on show on Monday but had disappeared by the
weekend and it remains to be seen whether it has moved on or is just taking
another break from its well-known roosting spot.

Stirring from their slumbers...Grass Snake have starting to be spotted on the warmer days
along the edges of the dykes and ditches on the reserve, thirty seven were counted recently.
Photo courtesy of John Workman.

There is such a different atmosphere when the sun shines, not
only was the wonderful sound of Skylark song cascading down from all over the
reserve on Monday, but the first Brimstones, Commas and Small Tortoiseshells
were on the wing and Grass Snakes could be found basking in favoured spots. These
had returned to winter quarters by the weekend and were nowhere to be seen in
the chillier conditions.

One of the highlights of the week was the number of
Peregrine hunts we were lucky enough to witness. We still have substantial
numbers of birds on the reserve and Pere­­grines very often cause large mixed
flocks to rise, wheeling into the air, creating a spectacular sight and a clue
to what may be going on.

Peregrine Falcon courtesy of Eddie Mclaughlin

One of these attacks involved both male and female
Peregrine zeroing-in on a seemingly doomed Snipe. While one raptor chased it
down the other tried to cut-off avenues of escape, but the resilient little wader
was able to perform a number of evasive manoeuvres, constantly losing height before
finally dropping out of the sky into cover in the nick of time. Buzzards, Red
Kites and the male Marsh Harrier were also harassed by Peregrine over the
favoured hunting area of Big Otmoor where the majority of wildfowl and waders
can be found.

Although thousands of Golden Plover have already moved on a
substantial number are still on the reserve, many of which are moving into
their lovely summer plumage. This can be appreciated either when they pass by
in flight or better still as they gather together on the ground. It will not be
long before these too are gone.

Curlew courtesy of Andy Last.

A small flock of Black-tailed Godwits has been present since late February and both Dunlin and Ruff may be seen with luck and a good set of optics. Redshanks seem to be everywhere while Oystercatcher and Curlew occasionally draw attention to themselves with their distinctive calls and flight silhouettes. Two pairs of Shelduck may be found usually on Ashgrave or Big Otmoor.

Amorous Shoveler courtesy of Derek Latham.

Down at the southern lagoon male Pochard could be seen swimming
with their heads pressed directly forward, partially submerged in their
slightly comical looking display and we felt sorry for one female Shoveller as
she was accompanied everywhere by a group of fifteen amorous males. When she
took off all would rise immediately behind her, fly around in a tight flock
only to land a short while later completely surrounding her on the water.

Bittern can be quite difficult to see at this time of year
so it was a bonus when one was spotted gliding over the reeds on Wednesday
afternoon. Alternatively it would be difficult to imagine visiting Otmoor
without seeing Marsh Harrier and the male bird especially was in evidence on
many occasions hunting over the fields. The wintering ringtail Hen Harrier was
seen during the week and photographed well on both days over the weekend.

The wintering ringtail Hen Harrier courtesy of Badger.

Clearly we are at that point where both winter and summer
birds are present, as well as the birds already mentioned it is still possible
to find the odd Redwing and Fieldfare but spring is marching on, further heralded
by the first three Sand Martins on Tuesday, at least half a dozen Chiffchaffs
and very smart male Wheatears at Lower Farm on Saturday and Noke Sides on
Sunday. Long-tailed tit and Dunnock could both be seen collecting nesting
material and we remain in high spirits looking forward to the clocks going
forward next weekend and even more time in the field.